Sprinkler head



p 17, 1940- P. DE LACY-MULHALL 2,214,852

SPRINKLER HEAD Filed May 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l p 1940- P. DELACY-MLLLHALL SPRINKLER HEAD Filed May 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L57INVENTOR A TOR N EY Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PATENT OFFICE "SPRINKLERHEAD Patrick De Lacy-Mulhall, Los Angeles, Calif., as-

. 'signor to Katherine De Lacy-Mulhall. widow of Patrick DeLacy-Mulhall, deceased, by court order and decree Application May 28,1938, Serial No.'210,665

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a sprinkler head. I Such heads are used forexample for distributing a stream of water onto land it is desired toirrigate. Theymay be installed for example on ranches or in parks, golfcourses, and lawns. A head of this general character is described andclaimed in an application filed on April 19, r 1938, in the name ofPatrick De Lacy-Mulhall, under Serial'No. 202,854, and entitledSprinkler v head. 1

, In that application, there is described a head that carries one ormore sprinkler nozzles and thatis rotated by a water wheeldirectlyconnected to the head. Inthis way, the streams projected from thenozzles are caused to distribute water over the desired area, in a moreuniform manner.

It -is'one of theobjects of this invention to 1 provide a sprinkler headthat can distribute the water over the desired area, and yet obviatingthe requirement of a source of rotary power.

.. -.It is another object of this invention to provide a sprinkler headof simple and inexpensive structure, for distributing liquid in auniform manner overa desired area.

To accomplish these results, thehead is arranged to be moved in an axialdirection upward- 1y as soon as the valve supplying water thereto isopened.- This axial motion is utilized for two purposes: to elevate thenozzles so as to cause the projected stream to clear ground; and also,

4 to cause the head to be given an angular motion.

.As soon as the water supply is shut off, the head returns to itsretracted position by gravity, and in such angular position that asucceeding period of activity will continue the angular motion.Accordingly it is still another object of this invention to make itpossible to advance the head angularly for each period of operation, andespecially by the aid of interengaging sloping or guiding surfaces.jected by the nozzlesin the head are caused to operate over a circularpath; and the streams complete the required angular motion about the 5axis of the head in aperiod determined by the frequency of the alternateperiods of activity and inactivity.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a fewforms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the In this way,the streams pro- I present specification. These forms will now be(01.299-61) I described in detail, illustrating the general principlesof the invention; but it is to be understood that this detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope ofthe invention is best defined by the appended claims. 5

Referring to the drawings:

. Figure 1 is a. vertical sectional View of a sprinkler head and itsmounting, incorporatingthe invention; r a

Fig. 2 is a section taken along plane 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View illustrating a feature of theinvention; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along plane 44 ofFig. 1;

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along plane 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 1 of a modifiedform of sprinkler head structure; 20

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along plane" 1- -1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 i a fragmentary side View of a feature of the structureillustrated in Fig. 6.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the sprinkler headis shown as including a bowl I. Water under pressure is intended to beconducted into the bowl and to beejected therefrom through 'one or morenozzles, such as 2 and 3. Nozzle 2 is shown as formed with an enlargedhead 4, immediately below which there are threads 5 adapted to engage inan appropriate threaded aperture of the sloping wall t adjacent theupper portion of the bowl l. The nozzle 2 has a central opening I. Thisopening is shown as tapered gradually toward the bottom thereof toprovide an enlarged entrance opening for the nozzle; and the opening mayform a true cylindrical portion adjacent the discharge end of thenozzle. j 40 The nozzle structure 3 is in general similar to nozzlestructure 2, it being likewise supported by threads 8 within theslanting wall 9 of the bowl I. In this case, however, since the nozzle 2extend diagonally across the bowl I, the nozzle structure 3 isconsiderably shorter than the nozzle structure 2.

.The provision of an inlet for water under pres- .sure into the'bowl lis provided adjacent the bottom of the bowl I. Thus the bowl I has acentral boss l0 into which is threaded a tubular extension II. Thisextension H form a conduit from the water pipe I2 upwardly into the bowlI.

. The tubular member II has an upper threaded end I3 which enters intothe bottom ofthe bowl I and discharges water under pressure therein. Thearrangement, furthermore, is such that when a control valve is opened topass water .into the water pipe I2 and through the tube II fastened tothe bowl I, the bowl I is raised by the action of the fluid pressurewithin the bowl, said pressure being effective upon the lower surface 32 of the bowl top I4.

In order to provide a support for the tubular member II, and which willpermit telescopic upward movement of the bowl I, there is provided asupporting member I5. This supporting member I5 is threaded to the topof the pipe I2 and has a bore I6. At the upper endof the bore there isan inwardly directed flange I'I surrounding the exterior of the sleeveII. The sleeve II can thus slide within the flange I'I. At its lower endthe sleeve is provided with an enlarged flange I8, above which isdisposed a packing member I3. This packing member contacts thecylindrical surface iii of the support I5, and is also intended tocontact the lower surface of flange I I when the water pressure in bowlI, acting on the surface .64, lifts the bowl 3 with its associatedextension II. In this way the axial movement of the bowl assembly islimited.

As soon as the supply of water to the pipe I2 is interrupted, thepressure within the bowl I is reduced, and it is free to drop by.gravity to the position shown. In Fig. 1 the upper or extended positionof the bowl is indicated by the dot and dash lines. In this way thenozzles 2 and 3 are elevated a suflicient distance to clear the soilaround the bowl I. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a housingmember of general cylindrical form for enclosing the bowl I. Thishousing can be sunk into the earth to provide a recess for the sprinklerhead structure. The housing 20 can be provided with a top flange 2!,adapted, to overlie the earth. It may be supported by the aid of itsthreaded boss 22, threadedly engaged with the supporting member I5. Acheck nut 23 completes the assembly. I

As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5,

the top flange M- of the bowl I may be provided with a tooth 24 adaptedto engage in any one of a number of notches 25 formed at the upper edgeof the housing 20. In this way, as soon as the bowl I is retracted, thetooth 23 enters one of the notches and prevents inadvertent rotation ofthe bowl I about the axis of the pipe I2. I

It is desirable, however, that the streams of water projecting fromnozzles 2 and 3 be given an angular spread so as more uniformly todistribute water to the irrigated area. In the present instance, theaxial motion of the bowl I is utilized to produce a corresponding slightlimited angular motion of the bowl I about its axis.

For this purpose, use is made of a pair of sets of teeth 26 and 27.These are shown to best advantage in Fig. 3. They are axially spaced andthe individual teeth 28 of one set point towards the individual teeth 29of the other set. Each of these sets 26 and 2'! form an annulararrangement around the axis of the bowl I and beneath it. The upper set26 is shown as'formed integral with a flange 36. The lower set 27 isshown as formed integral with a corresponding flange M. This latterflange 3| may be provided with a series of radial arms 32 (Fig. 2)joining the flange 3I integrally to the support I5. Furthermore, the twosets 26 and 2'! are firmly secured together by the aid of a series ofopposed ears 33 and 34, The screws 35 pass through the upper ears 34fastened to the flange 30 and into appropriate threaded apertures in thelower ears 33 fastened to the lower flange 3 I.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the teeth of one set are angularlyspaced from the teeth of an other, and sloping faces of the teeth in oneset extend in opposite directions from the sloping faces of the teeth inthe other set.

The rotary head structure I carries a transverse member 36 having curvedcam extremities 31 (Fig. 3). This transverse member 36 is shown asintegrally supported on a hub 38 fastened between the lower surface ofbowl I, and a shoulder 39 adjacent the upper end of the tubular memberII.

Now assuming that the transverse member 36 is in the position of Figs. 1and 3; that is, the

head I in lowered, or retracted position. This transverse member beingaccommodated in the slot formed between two of the teeth 29, effectivelyprevents rotation of the head structure. However, just as soon as thehead is lifted, upon supplying water under pressure therein through thetubular member II, the transverse member 36 rises also and is freed fromthe teeth 29. "Howf ever, as the upper curved surface 'of thecam member31 strikes a sloping surface 40 of one of the teeth in theiset 26, thiscam member 31 is moved angularly into the dotted line position, o

in a slot provided between a pair of teeth 28. Due to the slopingsurface 40,the entire head assembly is given a rotation corresponding totheangular displacement of the teeth 28 from teeth'29.

It is apparent that when the headis retracted by gravity, the lowerportion of the curved cam surface of cam member 31 contacts the slopingsurface 4! of the next tooth 29 in the set of teeth 2?, and anotherlimited angular motion in the same direction is imparted to thesprinkler head structure.

The spacing between-the tips of one set'of teeth 23 and the opposingtipsof the set 27 is smaller than the height of the cam extremity31. Thus atno time is it possible to impart unlimited'continuous rotation to thesprinkler head structure.

Instead, it is necessary to move the bowl I in an axial direction toaccomplish the limited angularmotion.

Upon alternate periods of activity of the sprin-,

kler head structure, this structure is given a step by-step rotation.The rate at which the sprinkler head makes a complete rotation dependsupon the frequency 'of the periods of activity. 'By-appropriatemechanism not herein shown, the fre quency of operation can be quitelarge, so that the head structure I is rotated over a complete circlewithin a reasonably short period.

.In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

6, 7 and 8, substantiallythe same type of mech-,, anism is provided forimparting limited angular vided with the outwardly extending flange47;"70

over which is disposed the packing or sealing ring 38. As before, wateradmitted through the pipe 45 and member 43 will create a force againstthe lower surface 49 of the cover .56 to cause the,

head 42 to be projected upwardly by an amount corresponding to thedistance between the flange 46 and flange 48. When the water supply isinsets and 52 are supported in a tubular mem-' ber 56, as by a pressfit, or otherwise, the inner surface of this tubular member contactingclosely with the outer annular surface of the teeth. These sets of teethare kept in appropriate spaced position by providing a series ofprojections 54 in the flange 53, which are accommodated in c appropriateslots in the top edge of the sleeve 56 and by the provisionof similarprojections 51 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) extending radially from the flange 55.In this way the appropriate axial and annular spacings of the teeth areassured. The flange 55 can furthermore be made integral with the support44, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. The projections 51 on the lowerflange 55 are radially extended beyond the projections 54. This is forthe purpose of making it possible conveniently to apply a wrench tothese projections 51, for assembling support 44 on pipe 45.

The bowl 42 carries a pair of projections 59 and 60 having the curvedcam surfaces 6|, as indicated in Fig. 8. This cam surface cooperateswith the sloping tooth surfaces in the same manner as described inconnection with the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1.

In this case the top flange 50 of the bowl 42 simply rests upon theflange 53. The projections 59 and 60 effectively prevent, as before, anyfree rotation of the sprinkler head structure.

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler head, a support for the head, said head having a membermovable with respect to the support for raising and retracting said headwith respect to an axis, said head having an inlet for a liquid and oneor more discharge nozzles, and arranged to be held in elevated positionwith respect to the support by liquid pressure during periods ofactivity, and to be retracted during periods of inactivity, and meansfor imparting limited progressive angular motion of the head about saidaxis for each cycle of operation of the head, comprising cam meansoperated by the axial movement of the head with respect to its support.

2. A sprinkler head, a rotary mounting for the head, said head beingarranged to receive and discharge a liquid under pressure during itsperiods of activity, said mounting having telescoping parts to permitthe head to have' limited axial motion, and means for imparting limitedangular motion to the head, comprising a transverse member having a camsurface, and an annular member having a series of teeth cooperating withthe cam surface, one of said members being carried by the head, and theother being stationary.

3. A sprinkler head, a rotary mounting for the head, said head beingarranged to receive and discharge a liquid under pressure during itsperiods of activity, said mounting having telescoping parts to permitthe head to have limited axial motion, and means for imparting limitedangular motion to the head, comprising a pair of annular spaced membershaving opposed teeth, and a transverse member having a cam surface inspaced opposed cooperating with the teeth, upon axial motion of thehead. I

4. A sprinkler head, a rotary mounting for the head, said head beingarranged to receive and discharge a liquid under pressure during itsperiods of activity, said mounting having telescoping parts to permitthe head to have limited axial motion, and means for imparting limitedangular motion to the head, comprising a pair of sets of annularlyarranged relation, and a member transverse to the head and having a camsurface cooperating with the teeth upon axial motion of the head.

teeth, said sets being 10 5. A sprinkler head, said head having anaxial1y extending tubular member, a support adapted to be connected to asource of liquid, and with which said tubular member is in telescopicrelation, said tubular member serving as an inlet conduit into the head,said head also having a nozzle StILlC-i ture for discharging the liquidfrom the head, the liquid pressure during periods of activity of thehead serving to urge the head and the tubular member in an axialdirection, and cam means operating upon axial motion of the head withrespect to the support, for imparting a limited angular motion to thehead.

6. A sprinkler head, said head having an axially extending tubularmember, a support adapted to be connected to a source of liquid, andwith which said tubular member is in telescopic relation, said tubularmember serving as an inlet conduit into the head, said head also havinga nozzle structure for discharging the liquid from the head, the liquidpressure during periods of activity of the head serving to urge the headand the tubular member in an axial direction, and means operating uponaxial motion of the head with respect to the support, for imparting alimited angular motion to the head, comprising a toothed member havingteeth annularly arranged around said axis, and a cooperating memberhaving a cam surface for engaging the teeth.

'7. A sprinkler head, a rotary mounting for the head, said head beingarranged to receive and discharge a liquid under pressure during itsperiods of activity, and means whereby for each period of activity, alimited progressive angular motion is imparted to the head, comprising apair of sets of teeth arranged annularly around the head axis, the teethof one set being axially as well as angularly spaced from the teeth inthe other set, and a member relatively movable axially from between apair of teeth in one set, to between a pair of teeth in the other set.

8. A sprinkler head, said head having an axially extending tubularmember, a support adapted to be connected to a source of liquid, andwith Which said tubular member is in telescopic relation, said tubularmember serving as an inlet conduit into the head, said head also havinga nozzle structure for discharging the liquid from the head, the liquidpressure during periods of activity of the head serving to urge the headand the tubular member in an axial direction, and means operating, uponaxial motion of the head with respect to"the support, for imparting alimited angular motion to the head, comprising a pair of sets of teeth,arranged annularly around the axis, the teeth of one set being axially.ly extending tubular member, a supportadapted conduit into the head,said head also having a ,nozzle structure for discharging the liquid.from

the head, the liquid pressure during periods of activity of the headserving to urge the head and the tubular member in an axial direction,

and means operating upon axial motion of the head with respect to thesupport, for imparting a limited angular motion to the head, comprisinga -member carried by the head and extending transversely to the axis andbelow the head,,and a pair of spaced annular sets of teeth carried bythe support and in opposed relation to each other, the slots between theteeth serving to accommodate the ends of the transverse member, theteeth of one set being angularly displaced from the teeth of the otherset.

10. A sprinkler head, said head ,having an axially extending tubularmember, a supportadapted to be connected to a source of liquid, and withwhich said tubular member is in telescopic relation, said tubular memberserving as an inlet conduit'into the head, said head also having anozzle structure for discharging the liquid from the head, the liquidpressure vduring periods of activity of the head serving to urge thehead and the tubular member in an axial direction, and means operatingupon axial motion of the head with respect to the support, for impartinga limited angular motion to the head, comprising one or more projectionscarried by the head, a tubular stationary shell extending around thehead, and a pair of sets of teeth supported inside the shell and inopposed axially and angularly spaced relation, the projections .beingaccommodated in'the slots between the teeth.

PATRICK DE LACY-MULHALL.

